Surname McNaughten - Meaning and Origin

McNaughten: What does the surname McNaughten mean?

The last name McNaughten is of Scottish origin and is derived from the personal name Nechtan. The Gaelic form of the surname is Mac Neachdain, meaning 'son of Nechtan.' The name Nechtan is of ancient Celtic origin, linked to the water god in Irish mythology, Nechtan mac Nám, thus signifying a divine or noble heritage. It was a popular given name amongst Scottish Highland clans during the Middle Ages. Since then, this name has evolved over centuries into several versions including McNaughton, MacNaughtan, and McNaughten. Despite the various spellings, the essence of the surname connects to its noble and divine roots while reflecting the clan-based culture of historic Scotland. The distribution of the McNaughten surname is widespread, particularly in the United States, Scotland, and Ireland.

McNaughten: Where does the name McNaughten come from?

The surname McNaughten is of Scottish origin. It's derived from the Gaelic Mac Neachdain, meaning son of Nechtan. The name accounted for a clan in Scotland around the medieval times with their family seat in Argyll, an area in the Scottish Highlands. The McNaughten clan was known for bravery, strength, and leadership in the medieval area of Scotland. They held their castle and estates in Argyll and were constant supporters of the Scottish government.

Today, the last name McNaughten is common in countries with large populations of people who descend from Scotland, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and the UK. However, the name is not as widespread as other Scottish surnames. Since many people of Scottish descent have spread out all over the world, incidences of the surname can be found in many other regions of the world as well. It's important to note that the spelling of the surname may vary, with some common variations including MacNaughten, McNaughton, and MacNaughton.

Variations of the surname McNaughten

The surname McNaughten has several variants and spellings due to regional influences, language variations, and phonetic spelling. Variants of the surname may include: McNaughton, MacNaughton, MacNaghten, McKnoghton, McNorton, McNaughtan, M'Naughten, and M'Knight.

Further variants can include alterations in the prefix such as "Mac" in place of "Mc", which are interchangeable and represent the Gaelic translation for 'son of'. Also, variations in spelling can arise due to the silent 'g' (e.g., Naughton or Norton) or swapping 'u' for 'a' (thus Naughtan or Naghton). The surname can also sometimes be Anglicized to Nightingale.

These variations in spelling often indicate the same origin, primarily from Scotland and Ireland. The name is particularly associated with the Scottish Clans Macnaghten and Macnaughton.

Surnames of the same origin may also include surnames devoted to other clans in the same region of Scotland and Ireland. These could potentially incorporate other surnames that use 'Mc' or 'Mac' prefixes, which represent son of, paired with a personal name or descriptor.

Famous people with the name McNaughten

• Grant McNaughton: Canadian-born actor who is best known for his recurring role in the sitcom Modern Family.
• David McNaughton: American attorney and politician who served as Tennessee Attorney General from 1973–1980.
• Shannon McNaughtan: Canadian voice actress who voiced Regigigas in Pokemon Diamond/Pearl.
• Stephen McNaughton: Irish actor who has appeared in several films and television series, including Game of Thrones.
• Kenneth McNaughton: American professional football player who played for the San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Oakland Raiders.
• Gary McNaughton: Former Canadian ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for the Buffalo Sabres, Quebec Nordiques, and Toronto Maple Leafs.
• Ally McNaughton: Professional golfer who has competed in the LPGA Tour since 2007.
• Jimmy McNaughton: Canadian former football player who played in the Canadian Football League for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
• Kyle McNaughton: English former footballer who played primarily as a right back for clubs in the Premier League, the Football League and the Welsh Premier League.
• Kim McNaughton: Canadian former figure skater who competed in pairs at the 1988 Winter Olympic Games.

Other surnames

McNaughtMcNaughton